Excerpt from A Moral Picture of Philadelphia: The Virtues and Frauds and Follies of the City Delineated

We import too much literature from abroad. Much of it is, anti-republican and aristocratic in its character and tendency. It is a strange fact that Americans, and even those who cry out most boisterously against foreign influence, generally prefer foreign publications to those of their own land. I would tell the American people, that the foreign publications that circulate among them, are more dangerous to their liberties and morals than all the oppressed men of other soils, that seek protection under the shadow of their eagle's wings. We have indeed received many useful lessons on law and government from other lands; even their very errors have taught us wis dom. Much of our knowledge of science and the arts has been imported. It is, indeed, because we are all of foreign origin that we are wiser than the wild Indians of the forest. It is, however, now time for us to strike out a new path for ourselves. We should seek to establish an American national literature, deeply imbued with the spirit of genuine republicanism. Even the novels and other works of fiction brought from beyond the Atlantic, are rcalculated to inculcate anti-democratic principles. Such works, too, as are brought here, are often immoral in their bearing. An international copy-right law would at least tend to check the circulation of these works among us. Few works from abroad, except those on the physical sciences and arts, are suited to benefit Ame ricans. More encouragement should be given to Ameri can talent and genius.

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